Useful Information

Repairs, Maintenance and Minimum Standards

As a landlord you have a legal duty to make sure that your home meets certain minimum physical standards.

From 1 February 2009, properties for rent must meet new minimum physical standards as outlined in the Housing (Standards for Rented Houses) Regulations 2008.

A further set of regulations, the Housing (Standards for Rented Houses) (Amendment) Regulations 2009 came into effect on 1 December 2009.

The Regulations intend to improve standards in rental accommodation. They will gradually phase out the traditional bedsit, by requiring each rental unit to have its own toilet and bath or shower facilities. An open fire will no longer suffice as a sole source of heating; central heating or an equivalent will be required.

A house, flat or apartment which is let for rent for the first time after 1 February 2009 must comply fully with the Regulations. However, some of the Regulations will not apply to existing tenancies until 1 February 2013. This means, if a house was let for rent between 1 September 2004 and 31 January 2009 it doesn